Guy Groups Through The Years
Let's Hear it for the Boys: Guy Groups Through the Years
African American guy groups have played a significant role in creating the soundtrack of America. From Curtis Mayfield-penned black pride songs like 'People Get Ready and 'Keep on Pushing' to the Temptations sugary 'My Girl,' the work of these boy bands continues to impact new generations. Blackvoices.com pays homage to these groups. Let's hear it for the boys.
Guy Groups Through The Years
B2K
Notable Members: Lil' Fizz, J-Boog, Raz-B, and Omarion
Formed: Managed and founded by Chris Stokes, B2K hit the music scene in 2001 topping the charts their debut gold selling self-titled album followed by the platinum selling 'Pandemonium!' The urban boy band went on to disband in 2004 due to internal disagreements.
Notable Songs: 'Uh Huh' and 'Bump, Bump, Bump'
Factoid: Omarion along with Marques Houston and Chris Stokes has a production company called, Franchise Boys.
Guy Groups Through The Years
Az Yet
Notable Members: Marc Nelson, Dion Allen, Shawn Rivera, Kenny Terry and Tony Grant
Formed: Shawn Rivera and Dion Allen originally created Az Yet in 1989 as a quartet. After adding Kenny Terry, Darryl Anthony, and Boyz II Men founding member Marc Nelson to the lineup, Kenneth Edmonds booked them to perform with After 7 and El Debarge before signing them to his imprint, LaFace Records.
Notable Songs: 'Last Night' and 'Hard to Say I'm Sorry'
Factoid: Az Yet's biggest song, "Last Night,' was featured on the soundtrack ofthe 1996 Eddie Murphy flick 'The Nutty Professor.'
Guy Groups Through The Years
Boyz II Men
Notable Members: Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman, Michael McCary
Formed: Boyz II Men came together as a quintet at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts in 1988 and after auditioning for New Edition member Michael Bivens after a Bell Biv DeVoe concert, the Grammy Award-winning R&B group signed to Bivens' Biv Ten Records and Motown Records.
Notable Songs: "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday,' 'End of the Road,' 'MotownPhilly,' 'I'll Make Love To You,' and 'On Bended Knee'
Factoid: After Elvis and The Beatles, Boyz II Men are only the third act to ever replace itself at number-1 on the Hot 100 chart, when their hit 'On Bended Knee' replaced 'I'll Make Love To You' in 1994.
Guy Groups Through The Years
Dru Hill
Notable Members: Tamir "Nokio" Ruffin, Mark "Sisqo" Andrews, Larry "Jazz" Anthony and James "Woody Rock" Green
Formed: This Baltimore-based quartet, which at its height amassed seven Top 40 hits and a string of No. 1 R&B songs, formed in 1992 while working employed at fudge factory. There, the guys sang and performed to entertain guests while they made fudge before being signed to Island Records.
Notable Songs: 'In My Bed,' 'Never Make a Promise,' 'Tell Me,' 'Beauty,' 'We're Not Making Love No More' and 'How Deep is Your Love'
Factoid: Sisqo, the group's breakout star, was the second to leave Dru Hill after Woody decided to quit and go back to his gospel roots. Sisqo made a name for himself in 2000 with the summer hit 'Thong Song.'
Guy Groups Through The Years
Guy
Notable Members: Teddy Riley, Aaron Hall, and Damion Hall
Formed: After penning Bobby Brown's 'My Prerogative' and Johnny Kemp's 'Just Got Paid,' Harlem childhood friends Teddy Riley and Aaron Hall created the group Guy in 1987 and signed with Andre Harrell's Uptown Records in 1988.
Notable Songs: 'Groove Me,' 'Teddy's Jam,' 'I Like,' 'Round and Round (Merry Go Round of Love),' 'Piece of My Love,'
Factoid: By the time the New Jack Swing trio found success with the theme song to the 1991 film 'New Jack City,' they group disbanded, but Riley continued producing other artists, like Michael Jackson, Heavy D and even formed another boy band, Blackstreet.
Guy Groups Through The Years
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
Notable Members: Harold Melvin, Teddy Pendergrass, John Atkins, Bernard Williams, Roosevelt Broadie, Jesse Gillis, Jr., and Franklin Peaker
Formed: Though initially they called themselves The Charlemagnes, and then The Original Blue Notes, but they settled on the name Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes in the late 60s.
Notable Songs: 'If You Don't Know Me By Now,' 'Wake Up Everybody,' ' Bad Luck,' and 'I Miss You'
Factoid: Teddy Pendergrass unsuccessfully attempted to have the group named Teddy Pendergrass & the Blue Notes in 1976. But, quitting the group proved the best move for the Philly soul singer, who went on to have a successful solo career.
Guy Groups Through The Years
H-Town
Notable Members: Keven 'Dino' Conner, Soloman 'Shazam' Conner and Darryl 'G.I.' Jackson
Formed: In 1992, twin brothers Keven 'Dino' Conner, Soloman 'Shazam' Conner and their long-time friend Darryl 'G.I.' Jackson signed a record deal with 2 Live Crew rapper Luther 'Luke' Campbell's Luke Records. They named themselves H-Town in homage to their hometown of Houston, Texas.
Notable Songs: 'Knockin' Da Boots,' 'Emotions,' and 'A Thin Line Between Love and Hate'
Factoid: On January 28, 2003, Dino and his girlfriend Teshya Rae Weisant were struck by an SUV that read a red light and killed in an automobile accident in Houston, Texas. The platinum-selling group had just finished recording what would have been their fourth studio album.
Guy Groups Through The Years
The Isley Brothers
Notable Members: O'Kelly Isley, Jr., Rudolph O'Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley and Chris Jasper
Formed: The elder sons of O'Kelly Isley, Sr. and Sally Bell Isley formed The Isley Brothers in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1954. Their younger brothers, Ernie and Marvin and their brother-in-law, Chris Jasper joined the fold in 1973 and the trio became a six-member line-up.
Notable Songs: 'It's Your Thing,' 'Fight the Power (Part 1),' 'Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time For Love)' and 'Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)'
Factoid: The Grammy Award-winning Isley Brothers, who at one time were backed by late legendary guitar player Jimi Hendrix. They are the only act to chart in the Top 40 in six separate decades.
Guy Groups Through The Years
The Jacksons
Notable Members: Michael Jackson, Randy Jackson, Jackie Jackson, Tito Jackson, Jermaine Jackson and Marlon Jackson
Formed: Arguably the biggest pop group of the 1970s, Joseph Jackson put his three eldest boys together to form a singing group and called them The Jackson Brothers. Michael and Marlon were added to play the tambourine and congas, and the group was called The Jackson 5, but Michael quickly became the standout star and lead singer.
Notable Songs: 'ABC,' 'The Love You Save,' 'I'll Be There,' 'I Want You Back,' 'Can You Feel It,' 'Never Can Say Goodbye' and 'Dancing Machine.'
Factoid: Motown founder Berry Gordy decided to tell press that Diana Ross discovered The Jackson 5, to have a bigger impact on the public perception of the group, but it was really his assistant Suzanne de Passe, who as a teenager discovered them, helped to groom the boys and convinced her boss to sign The Jackson 5 to the storied record label.
Guy Groups Through The Years
Comments: (87)
Add a comment
By: dbelieve30 on 10/28/2010 4:46PM
I don't think Chris Stokes or Marcus Houston will comment on this issue because they are in negotiations with Raz B. According to Raz, in a recent interview, he stated that he, Chris, and Marcus, recently had meeting where they used a negotiator--all while in the same room--to speak about these allegations. After the negotiation, i guess, we could expect to here from the rest of the B2K clan. This is crazy.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: ARNEADER on 10/29/2010 10:08AM
SAD
Report This
By: Brown Sugah Baby on 10/28/2010 3:10PM
If all is as Raz says it is, I'm glad he felt confident and comfortable enough to reveal the truths about these guys. If for no other reason, its sort of a 'heads-up' for new recruits unaware of their eventual goal and someone down the line may be spared the pain and shame this young man has endured.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: shed on 10/28/2010 4:28PM
I absolutely believe Him,In our macho hood inveroment, not even a crazy guy on meds wont come out and admit something like this. However when you men like raz, and the four young men who outed bishop long for molestation. People tend to turn a blind eye like the old catholic church did with the prisest.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: ADMR on 10/31/2010 3:08PM
REMINDER: BLACK MEN: Keep Talking, Keep Telling - WE Believe & Will Lobby for Immediate Execution Of Sexual Deviants eg. Pedophiles,Molesters which the Majority Are Sick Whites...SEE JTV Especially
Report This
By: "DimePiece" on 10/28/2010 4:48PM
Raz B I heard, when B2K broke up was mentally going through some problems, because he was out of a job, not popular, depressed and jealous because Omorion went solo and made it? Ok, I felt sorry for dude an Jesus changed his life. But for him to come out NOW, accuse people that helped him get his career started, I'm not sorry. I really believe this is a publicity stunt for his new album. I heard his single from the album and it sounded TERRIBLE like a BACK-UP singer not a FRONT LEAD SINGER, ok? Come on, he is with a record label owned by Tequila (can't think of the woman's name) but she was on a MTV Reality Show. I don't believe him. Why is he just not coming out and why did he STAY as long as he did in the group before they broke up while the molestation supposedly was going on? Did dude needed the $$$$ that bad? COME ON? I am not buying it nor am I BUYING his upcoming album. This po young man, needs PHYCIATRIC HELP! I pray that he gets himself together and I don't think it's a good idea for him to be back on the music scene. He sounds and looks CrAzY
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: t on 10/29/2010 7:15AM
Man this is not true whatsoever
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: clarke on 10/29/2010 8:20AM
WHAT'S UP MY FRIEND DIME, YEAH WE ON THE SAME PAGE AGAIN. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS ONE EITHER, IT SEEMS TO HAVE BECOME THE VICTIMIZATION OF THE DAY TO CLAIM SEXUAL ABUSE. AREN'T THEY ALL JUST ABOUT THE SAME AGE? NOW BEFORE I GET JUMPED ON I KNOW ABUSE DOES HAPPEN BUT I ALSO KNOW THE MOST KIDS EXPERIMENT WITH A LOT OF THINGS ESPECIALLY YOUNG BOYS WHEN THEY HIT PUBERTY. AND AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE HAVING A SAME SEX EXPERIENCE DOESN'T MAKE A STRAIGHT PERSON GAY BECAUSE IF IT DID THEN THAT WOULD MEAN HAVING AN OPPOSITE SEX EXPERIENCE WOULD MAKE A GAY PERSON STRAIGHT. PEACE MY FRIEND.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: dre8791 on 10/29/2010 10:19AM
And you sir is a dumbass.
Report This
By: "DimePiece" on 10/29/2010 3:35PM
What it do clarke?
Ready for the weekend? I am aware that there are abusers and I believe the victims, this one I just don't believe? I see someone is trying to jump on you about now? Hey, like I said clarke YOU DO YOU. We are entitle to our own opinions. Oh, RiRi is going to be on "Saturday Night Live" tomorrow? Clarke, all you need is a plane ticket, get there before the show, hide behind a bush, spot RiRi alone, get your torch ready for her wig and, BURN THAT SUCKA UP! You can't let her get away with it this time? I know you can get the job done, clarke. "Happy Halloween" and have a nice weekend.
Peace!
Report This